Computer supported visualization to support continuous improvements within quality systems

Författare

Mikael Blomé
Per Odenrick

Summary, in English

This paper presents a study wherein computer supported visualization is used to design and enhance understanding of quality systems. The study attempts to discover if a quality system such as ISO 9000 can be visualized, and how the visualization should be designed in order to support continuous improvement. Three companies in southern Sweden have set up special groups (here called design groups) whose purpose is to establish principles for models to visualize their quality systems on the Intranet. Their goal is to find a web-based solution that eliminates problems with updating documents, but that also supports understanding as well as reflection about how to improve existing routines and workflows. The design groups create and evaluate computer supported prototypes and exchange ideas via the Internet. The companies prefer descriptions containing local symbols (pertaining to just their company) that connect non-physical aspects, e.g. communication, with the physical environment. They also prefer the use of pictures as much as possible, since this makes the context more understandable. A quality system based on visualization will have better possibilities to engage personnel in the quality work; it will be faster, easier, and more interesting to use than systems with paper documents or other text based systems on the intranet.

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